Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has warned that rapid population growth is consuming nearly half of Pakistan’s economic growth, leaving fewer gains for improvements in living standards and economic prosperity.
He called for a coordinated national strategy to bring population growth in line with available resources, warning that sustainable development would remain difficult without addressing the issue.
Addressing the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Population Council on November 2, 2026, Iqbal said Pakistan’s population growth rate had gradually declined to 2.4 percent from 1980 onward but increased again to 2.55 percent in the 2023 census.
He described the reversal as a serious concern, saying the country had effectively moved away from efforts to control population growth.
Population Growth Erodes Economic Gains
Iqbal said population figures were not just statistics but reflected important questions about the country’s future, the well-being of children, and the sustainability of national resources.
He explained that if Pakistan’s economy grows by 5 percent while its population increases by 2.5 percent, per capita economic growth would be reduced to approximately 2.5 percent.
He warned that unchecked population growth was increasing pressure on education, healthcare, employment opportunities, and essential public services.
The minister said Pakistan would struggle to achieve sustainable economic development unless population growth was brought closer to the country’s resource capacity.
Ahsan Iqbal Calls for Changes to NFC Award
Iqbal also pointed to the distribution of national resources, arguing that allocating 82 percent of resources based on population could create incentives that encourage population growth.
He proposed linking the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award with development and sustainability indicators to reward provinces that achieve more balanced population growth.
He said the issue required action beyond healthcare and family planning, including improvements in girls’ education, women’s economic empowerment, and public awareness.
Iqbal urged federal and provincial governments to treat population growth as a national emergency and develop a joint strategy to address it.
He added that coordinated action across healthcare, education, community awareness, and social attitudes was necessary to bring population growth under control and protect Pakistan’s economic security and development prospects.
